THE BEST OF SICILY in 11 days
Palermo - 2 nights
Trapani - 2 nights
Agrigento - 1 night
Syracuse - 2 nights
Taormina - 2 nights
Catania - 1 night
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$3295 + air
Single Room = $575 or less
My Best of Sicily Tour takes you on a route visiting my best destinations on the island. We will visit all the main tourist sights, but the cultural experiences, small villages, and unique destinations often make the most vivid travel memories. I think we’ve come up with a balanced mix of both. Beginning in Palermo, you’ll experience a lively and vibrant city full of colorful characters, ancient churches, and bustling markets. Then we will get out of town to visit the ancient Greek sites of Segesta, Agrigento, and Syracuse. Along the way, you’ll experience the culture, cuisine, and sense of community only found in small villages and hilltowns. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy some free time on your own to make your own travel memories. Sicily will provide an intense dose of Italian culture supercharged with a Sicilian flair.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
DAY 1: WELCOME TO PALERMO! – Let’s plan to meet for drinks and introductions at 4:00 p.m. in our hotel. Then, we will set off to explore the streets and neighborhoods of Palermo. After an orientation walk, enjoy a true Sicilian dinner at a local restaurant. Sleep for 2 nights in Palermo. Walking: Light. Dinner.
DAY 2: MONREALE AND THE MARKETS – We will begin the day with a visit to the hill town of Monreale and its cathedral. Here you’ll have an opportunity to visit the cathedral’s interior featuring Arab-influenced mosaics and lavish decorations. Back in Palermo, we will take a strolling tour through the backstreets and a local outdoor market. You’ll have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to poke around and do some exploring on your own. Walking: Strenuous.
DAY 3: GREEK TEMPLES AND HILLTOP ERICE – Sicily was dominated by the Greeks long before the Romans settled here, and we’ll get our fair share of “Greece” on our tour around Sicily. Leaving Palermo, we will drive west to Segesta, the site of a magnificent Greek temple and theatre. Later, enjoy a scenic drive into the mountains to Erice, a mountain-top town dating from the middle ages with a fortress, castle, and fantastic views of the sea and islands. After a short orientation, enjoy lunch and a free afternoon for sightseeing. Later, we will head down the hill to Trapani, a bustling seaside town on the far west coast. Here, enjoy an orientation walk around the harbor and a free evening on your own. Sleep for 2 nights in Trapani. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Lunch.
DAY 4: THE SALT FLATS AND MOZIA – Heading south, we will visit a coastal area where salt has been harvested for thousands of years. We will have a look at the salt harvesting process and then visit nearby Mozia, a small coastal island and the home of an ancient Phoenician civilization. Later, we’ll return to Trapani for a free evening. Driving: 2 hours. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 5: AGRIGENTO “VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES” – Enjoy another scenic drive along the southern coastal road en route to the “Valley of the Temples.” Agrigento was founded by the Greeks some 2,500 years ago as an outlying colony of their empire. During the Greek era, the hills along this valley were prime spots for building temples, just like the Parthenon in Athens. Today, you’ll experience some of the best-preserved of all Doric Greek temples in the world. Later, we will arrive at our hotel for a relaxing evening and a fantastic dining experience. Sleep 1 night near Agrigento. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 6: ANCIENT ROMAN MOSAICS & SYRACUSE – We will spend most of the day visiting a Roman Villa that was lost until just 60 years ago. The Villa Romana Casale was covered with mud and debris by a landslide in the 12th century. What we’ll see today are wonderfully preserved and detailed mosaic floors dating from the 4th century. Then travel to Syracuse, known by the Greeks as their most beautiful city. We will take an orientation walk and have dinner together on the island of Ortygia. Sleep for 2 nights in Syracuse. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 7: GREEK THEATRE - Enjoy a visit to an archaeological park for a look at an impressive Greek theatre carved out of solid rock. The remainder of the day is event-free to allow you to experience Syracuse and Ortygia on your own. Walking: Moderate.
DAY 8: MONT ETNA & TAORMINA: Heading north, travel the slopes of Mt. Etna, an active volcano, en route to Taormina. In Taormina, enjoy a delightful evening passiggiata and dinner. Sleep for 2 nights in Taormina. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: Moderate. Lunch or Dinner.
DAY 9: GREEK THEATRE– This morning, we will visit a very well-preserved Greek theatre that is still used today for open-air performances. Enjoy a free afternoon on your own to shop, relax in a café, take a walk in the park or visit the cliff-top village of Castelmola. Walking: Light.
DAY 10: CATANIA– After breakfast, travel down to Catania, where we will visit the Museum dedicated to the 1943 Allied Landings in Sicily (Museo dello Sbarco). Later, you’ll be free to wander through Catania’s fish market and enjoy the beautiful Baroque city center. We’ll gather for a farewell dinner at a local ristorante to cap off your Sicilian tour experience. Sleep 1 night in Catania. Driving: 2 hours. Walking Moderate. Dinner.
DAY 11: HEADING HOME – Breakfast is provided this morning, but there are no planned activities. Catania’s airport is just a short taxi ride away. Arriverderci!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
Transportation is provided by a coach and/or minibus from your hotel in Palermo to the airport in Catania.
10-night accommodation in centrally located hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurants, and hotel staff.
Strictly Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six of your dinners or lunches.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
Tours and admissions to the following attractions, experiences, and sights: Walking tour in Palermo ·Entrance and tour at Monreale Cathedral · Segesta Temple · Erice orientation walk · Visit to the Salt Flats · visit to the island of Mozia · Valley of the Temples tour · Villa Romana Casale · Ortygia neighborhood walk · Syracuse · Neopolis Archaeological Park tour · WWII Landing Museum · Taormina walking tour · and much more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts who are dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
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Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry; we are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
David’s Video Series: The Best of Italy
David and his team have produced an episodic video series detailing many of the destinations on this tour itinerary. They are all neatly organized on his YouTube channel. Watch the complete series or view one episode at a time on his Best of Italy Playlist.
David’s 60 Seconds destination videos
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in Italy. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Italy.
David's TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY almost-weekly broadcast and Video Series Blog.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
David’s Blog Articles
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
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We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.